The Smiths signed to the independent label Rough Trade Records in 1983 and released their first album, The Smiths, in 1984. They based their songs on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr. Their focus on a guitar, bass, and drum sound and a fusion of 1960s rock and post-punk was a rejection of the synth-pop sound that was predominant at the time. Several Smiths singles reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, and all their studio albums reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart, including the number-one album Meat Is Murder (1985). They achieved mainstream success in Europe with The Queen Is Dead (1986) and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987), both of which entered the top 20 of the European Albums Chart.
Internal tensions led to the Smiths' breakup in 1987, followed by public lawsuits over royalties. Their live album Rank (1988) reached the top 10 in Europe. Since the band's dissolution, the members have refused offers to reunite and have all separately stated that the band is finished and will never reunite.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smiths
Studio albums
The Smiths (1984)
Meat Is Murder (1985)
The Queen Is Dead (1986)
Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
Never Had No One Ever
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On these
Streets where you were raised
I had a really bad dream
It lasted twenty years, seven months, and twenty seven days
I never, I'm alone, and I
Never, ever oh, had no one ever
I'm alone
And I'm outside your house
I hate to intrude
Oh, alone, I'm alone, I'm alone, I'm alone
I'm alone
I'm alone
And I never, never, oh, had no one ever
I never had no one ever
I never had no, no one ever
Had no one never
Never, no
Oh
The Smiths' song "Never Had No One Ever" tells a tale of isolation and loneliness. The opening lines about "walking without ease" on the streets where one grew up sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer then shares a vivid dream that lasted for over twenty years, where they experienced a prolonged feeling of solitude. The lyrics use repetition to emphasize the singer's sense of isolation: "I never, I'm alone," and "Never, ever oh, had no one ever." The repetition of 'never' and 'alone' underlines the singer's sense of despair and long-lasting loneliness.
The song's somber tone is intensified further in the chorus, where the singer reveals that they are outside someone's house, but they feel alone, intrusive, and unwelcome. The lyrics almost seem to imply that the singer feels they have no choice but to seek connection with others, even if it means intruding on their privacy. The final repetition of "never had no one ever" echoes through the entire song, emphasizing the long-lasting despair felt by the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
When you walk without ease
When you walk on these streets where you grew up and have difficulty feeling at ease
On these
Streets where you were raised
On these streets that hold the memories of your upbringing
I had a really bad dream
I had a nightmare that felt all too real
It lasted twenty years, seven months, and twenty seven days
The feelings of hopelessness and loneliness from that nightmare have lasted for an incredibly long time
I never, I'm alone, and I
I never had anyone to turn to, and I remain alone and isolated
Never, ever oh, had no one ever
I have never had anyone to rely on or connect with in my life
Now I'm outside your house
I'm alone
And I'm outside your house
Despite my loneliness, I find myself outside of someone's home, wishing to connect but feeling unwelcome
I hate to intrude
I feel guilty for imposing my presence on someone else's life
Oh, alone, I'm alone, I'm alone, I'm alone
I'm alone
I'm alone
I repeat my loneliness like a mantra, reminding myself of my isolation
And I never, never, oh, had no one ever
I never had no one ever
I never had no, no one ever
Had no one never
Never, no
Oh
I long for a connection and understanding that I have never experienced, and it feels like it will never come
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind